In addition to the Department of Justice's announcement on DOMA yesterday, the anti-modernity, anti-equality Christianists took two other major hits on the recognition of same sex relationships front. The Maryland Senate passed a bill that will legalize same sex marriage and Hawaii signed into law civil unions legislation that affords all the rights of marriage except the name "marriage." The Maryland measure is expected to pass the House of Delegates and the governor has announced that he will sign the bill when it reaches his desk. The forces of the far right are apoplectic - if gay marriage becomes the norm, one of their biggest cash cows for fleecing the sheeple they target will largely dry up. Image - people like Maggie Gallagher, Victoria Cobb and Tony Perkins might have to get real jobs!!! Here are highlights from the Washington Post on the legislation in Maryland:*
The Maryland Senate advanced legislation Wednesday allowing same-sex marriages on a preliminary vote of 25 to 22, all but ensuring passage of the measure in that chamber.
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Measures were defeated that sought to allow religiously affiliated adoption agencies to refuse services to same-sex couples, to allow clerks of courts to refuse to conduct marriages based on religious objections and to exempt public school teachers from teaching materials that "promote" gay unions.
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Senators on both sides of the bill predicted its passage Thursday, which would send the legislation to the House of Delegates - traditionally the more liberal chamber on social policy. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) has said he would sign the legislation.
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Sen. E.J. Pipkin (R-Queen Anne's) withdrew his measure that would have allowed small-business owners to refuse to offer their services for weddings or celebrations of gay couples. Pipkin said the amendment was intended to protect caterers, florists, musicians, wedding planners, photographers and bed-and-breakfast owners.
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As for Hawaii, these are highlights from the Honolulu Advertiser:
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Gov. Neil Abercrombie affixed his signature to the legislation (the first bill signing of his career) approving civil unions and making Hawaii the seventh state to grant most of the same rights and benefits of traditional marriage to same-sex couples. "For me, this bill represents equal rights for everyone in Hawaii -- everyone who comes here," Abercrombie said. "This is, to me, the essence of the aloha spirit."
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A celebratory crowd of about 150 invited guests to Washington Place gave Abercrombie a standing ovation -- and cries of "Thank you, governor!" -- as he declared the Senate Bill 232 signed into law.
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[A]s supporters applauded the bill that placed Hawaii a step closer to same-sex marriage, opponents lamented and denounced the bill signing for the very same reason. "It's a sad day for the people of Hawaii," said Sen. Mike Gabbard (D, Kalaeloa-Makakilo), who has been at the forefront of opposition for gay marriage since the 1990s. "Politicians have shown that they just don't care about the views and values of the majority of Hawaii's residents.
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"Civil unions is same-sex marriage with a different name," Gabbard said. "The people of Hawaii made it clear that they're against civil unions and same-sex marriage and the politicians have basically said, 'To hell with you.'" Conservative groups including the Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Catholic Conference issued similar statements, arguing the matter is far from over, as they expect gay rights groups to continue the drive for same-sex marriage.
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The Christianist are going to be on the losing side of history and one can only hope that their opposition to equality ultimately hastens the demise of their hate and fear based form of religion.
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Gov. Neil Abercrombie affixed his signature to the legislation (the first bill signing of his career) approving civil unions and making Hawaii the seventh state to grant most of the same rights and benefits of traditional marriage to same-sex couples. "For me, this bill represents equal rights for everyone in Hawaii -- everyone who comes here," Abercrombie said. "This is, to me, the essence of the aloha spirit."
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A celebratory crowd of about 150 invited guests to Washington Place gave Abercrombie a standing ovation -- and cries of "Thank you, governor!" -- as he declared the Senate Bill 232 signed into law.
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[A]s supporters applauded the bill that placed Hawaii a step closer to same-sex marriage, opponents lamented and denounced the bill signing for the very same reason. "It's a sad day for the people of Hawaii," said Sen. Mike Gabbard (D, Kalaeloa-Makakilo), who has been at the forefront of opposition for gay marriage since the 1990s. "Politicians have shown that they just don't care about the views and values of the majority of Hawaii's residents.
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"Civil unions is same-sex marriage with a different name," Gabbard said. "The people of Hawaii made it clear that they're against civil unions and same-sex marriage and the politicians have basically said, 'To hell with you.'" Conservative groups including the Hawaii Family Forum and the Hawaii Catholic Conference issued similar statements, arguing the matter is far from over, as they expect gay rights groups to continue the drive for same-sex marriage.
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The Christianist are going to be on the losing side of history and one can only hope that their opposition to equality ultimately hastens the demise of their hate and fear based form of religion.
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